Welcome to the Buffalo Roundup

Welcome to the 59th Governor’s Annual Buffalo Roundup and Arts Festival! If you are here from near or far, let us be the first to tell you that we are so glad you are here!
If you’re here you already know that you are now in one of the most beautiful places on the planet earth—at least, we like to think so—and you’re in for a treat, not only in taking in the breathtaking scenery that surrounds you, but the majesty that is the Buffalo Roundup, the fun that is the arts festival, and the world-class service you will receive not only in the park, but also here in the City of Custer as our merchants and business owners welcome you with open arms. We know the pull of Custer State Park is strong this weekend (and every weekend, for that matter), but be sure to spend some time in downtown Custer browsing our shops, sampling our wonderful food and visiting with the friendly people who call this place home. We may not be quite as spectacular as over 1,000 buffalo thundering past you, but we’re a close second.
We look forward to the Buffalo Roundup every year, and this year is no different. The Roundup sees cowboys, cowgirls and park crews saddle up to bring in a herd of 1,300 bison through Custer State Park. The park is home to one of the world’s largest publicly-owned bison herds, according to travelsouthdakota.com. The Buffalo Roundup is part of Custer State Park’s management plan to maintain a healthy balance between the number of bison and the available rangeland forage. The park can only sustain a certain number of bison, based on the condition of the grassland and how much food is available. The Buffalo Roundup also allows for some of the animals to be sorted out of the herd. They are then sold at an auction in November.
If you will be so kind as to take our friendly advice, we would tell you to plan to leave for the viewing areas bright and early Friday morning. And by early we mean when it is still dark. The traffic gets thick on Wildlife Loop Road as people head to the scene of all the action, and traffic will be slow. Be sure to allocate plenty of time to reach your destination so that you don’t end up missing the buffalo running by because you hadn’t quite made it to the viewing areas yet.
This is also a good time to remind our guests from other parts of the country and world not to—as we say—pet the fluffy cows. Yes, most of the buffalo will be making their way into the corrals, but there are always a few wayward bulls they couldn’t get to cooperate roaming around the park. Remember they are wild animals with big horns and weigh as much as a truck. You don’t want to be on the next viral video of someone being flung by  one of the beasts, or even worse, severely injured.
This Friday, and all weekend, provides a one-of-a-kind experience for all who attend. We looking forward to seeing and visiting with you and allowing you to enjoy all Custer has to offer.